Switchable surfactants in drug delivery

Oral administration routes for drugs and other substances are limited and typified by large concentrations of drug throughout the body, with subsequent toxicity and collateral effects, and new potential drugs in the form of enzymes, proteins and genes which lack stability in the blood circulatory system. These are commonly delivered via injection. The principal idea of this project is delivery of a drug/gene encapsulated in a porous superstructure via an oral administration route. The drug/gene is then only released at a point where a magnetic field is introduced. This has the user friendly 'take a pill' approach of typical oral administration routes coupled with the targeted approach of an injection but using the painless and non-invasive properties of a magnetic field. It has added value in that the drug/gene will be effectively protected from enzymatic or other degradation while contained in the porous superstructure.

Project timeframe

The project runs from 2014 to 2018.

Project aims

The project aims to synthesise metal-based materials which form porous superstructures capable of encapsulating drug or genes. These superstructures can be disrupted by application of an external magnetic field which will then release the encapsulated drug/gene at a target area of choice.

Project findings and impact

This non-invasive targeted drug delivery approach will have a wide impact across the biomedical sciences benefitting end-users of pharmacological treatments minimising the collateral effects of typical oral administration and avoiding injection routes for substance administration.